Mystery over ‘secret’ BBC Panorama episode – just weeks after Dispatches’ explosive Russell Brand documentary
MYSTERY surrounds a "secret" BBC Panorama episode, just weeks after Channel 4's explosive Dispatches documentary about Russell Brand.
The BBC has announced a special edition of its flagship investigative show to be broadcast next Monday night.
The corporation usually reveals the title and subject of Panorama programmes in advance.
But no further details have been provided yet this time.
The apparent tease comes after Channel 4 used a similar approach ahead of their programme about comedian Brand earlier this month.
The channel only revealed he was the focus of its latest Dispatches probe hours before it aired on September 16.
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Dispatches and The Times carried out a joint investigation accusing Brand of rape and sexual assault, all allegations he denies.
There have been no details given on what next week's 59-minute Panorama will cover.
A TV listing for the October 2 show only describes it with the words: "Special. Investigative documentary."
The Sun Online has approached the BBC for comment.
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Married dad-of-two Brand, 48, has been accused of rape, sexual assault and abuse by four women including one aged 16 at the time.
Accusations in the joint investigation include that he raped a woman against a wall at his Los Angeles apartment.
Four women say he attacked them between 2006 and 2013 at the height of his fame, at a time he was presenting programmes for BBC Radio 2 and Channel 4 and starring in Hollywood movies.
He is also being investigated by the Metropolitan Police after a woman contacted them last week saying Brand sexually assaulted her in London's Soho in 2003.
And cops last night announced they were investigating a number of new claims of sexual offences allegedly involving Brand.
Brand shared a YouTube video on September 15 in which he denied any wrongdoing.
He insisted there was a "co-ordinated media attack" against him, while saying he "absolutely refutes" the accusations and that all his past relationships were "always consensual".
Last Friday he told his 3.8million Instagram followers to support him on video website Rumble after what he called a "distressing week".
He said: "I need your support now, more than ever, and more than I ever imagined I would."
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YouTube had announced it was demonetising his account on their platform, meaning he would no longer receive money from ads.
The BBC and Channel 4 also removed content featuring him from their sites.
